diff --git a/khash.h b/khash.h
index 07b4cc2e67..d10caa0c35 100644
--- a/khash.h
+++ b/khash.h
@@ -82,11 +82,16 @@ static const double __ac_HASH_UPPER = 0.77;
 	SCOPE kh_##name##_t *kh_init_##name(void) {							\
 		return (kh_##name##_t*)xcalloc(1, sizeof(kh_##name##_t));		\
 	}																	\
+	SCOPE void kh_release_##name(kh_##name##_t *h)						\
+	{																	\
+		free(h->flags);													\
+		free((void *)h->keys);											\
+		free((void *)h->vals);											\
+	}																	\
 	SCOPE void kh_destroy_##name(kh_##name##_t *h)						\
 	{																	\
 		if (h) {														\
-			free((void *)h->keys); free(h->flags);					\
-			free((void *)h->vals);										\
+			kh_release_##name(h);										\
 			free(h);													\
 		}																\
 	}																	\